On Media.

`Monday Night' brings changes

September 29, 2003|By Ed Sherman.

The last time ABC's "Monday Night Football" was at Soldier Field, Boomer Esiason still was playing quarterback, Dennis Miller was just another comedian and Dave Wannstedt was on relatively good terms with Chicago fans after the Bears pummeled the Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys.

Yes, it has been that long.

MNF returns for the first time since 1996 when it airs the Bears-Green Bay game Monday. The Soldier Field colonnades remain standing, and Al Michaels still is on the call. Other than that, everything is different.

"It's hard to believe it has been seven years," Michaels said. "It's great to be back."

Since 1996, MNF has undergone a couple of transformations that in some circles were received with the same enthusiasm as the exterior of new Soldier Field.

First ABC got rid of Dan Dierdorf and Frank Gifford. Then the pairing of Michaels and Esiason didn't work, and the grand experiment with Miller never extended beyond the novelty stage.

"We were going through a transitory period," Michaels said. "I'm glad we tried a few of those things. Why go through life without taking some chances?"

But ABC ultimately decided to go with the sure thing. Last year it brought in John Madden.

The arrival of Madden signaled that the network was done tinkering.

With Madden still spry at 67, he and Michaels are settling in for what should be a long run.

As Michaels said, "We went back to the basics."

Of course, Madden never has been basic. The move to ABC and the pairing with Michaels, however, seems to have given him a fresh look. Michaels has brought out his best.

"John and Al really have settled in," producer Fred Gaudelli said. "In the third quarter of last year's Super Bowl, I thought, `This is the best I've heard them all year.' It's clicked in and carried over to this year. It has become what we hoped it would become."

Madden was quick to credit Michaels.

"I'm just blessed to have a guy so smooth," Madden said. "I've never been a smoothie. When a guy can make sense of what you're saying, it helps you."

Madden acknowledged it took a while for him to get used to the routine of calling games on Monday nights.

He tries to watch Sunday's games off the satellite dish in his bus, but he said he always seems to switch to the wrong game.

"I wind up seeing nothing," he said with a laugh.

Madden also couldn't figure out what to do during the day Monday. After a morning meeting, he had to kill nearly 10 hours until game time. Michaels finally offered a tip and told him to save some of his game preparation for game day.

"Now I have a routine," Madden said.

For all his bluster and carefree persona, Madden always comes in prepared. "John never is satisfied," Gaudelli said.

The broadcast still ultimately is a slave to the quality of the game. Last year ABC had an incredible string of blowouts, including the Super Bowl. Last week the network was handed another one when Denver routed Oakland. The crew might have to get some fill material together again Monday night if the Bears stumble.

There's not much ABC can do about the game. It can control only how it is covered. For the first time in a long time, MNF feels good about its direction.

"We've got all the pieces in place again," Michaels said. "It just feels right. There's no greater thrill than having everything come together."

Stadium coverage: Gaudelli said Monday's telecast will showcase the new stadium. Expect Madden to say he likes having traditional facilities such as Soldier Field and Lambeau Field renovated instead of being replaced.

"We don't have a lot of tradition and history [in NFL stadiums], and we should keep what we have," Madden said.

Bonus coverage of the unveiling is planned. WMAQ-Ch. 5 will air a special at 6 p.m. Monday. Then at 7 p.m., WLS-Ch. 7 will have a one-hour lead-in to the game, providing numerous looks at the new place.

Madden's viewpoint: Madden has done enough Bears games in recent years to know what the problem is.

"It looks like the same old thing," he said. "They're still looking for a quarterback. This is the sixth straight year they've had a different quarterback. When you keep changing, you can't get the continuity."